Do any livebearers stop when the tank gets to a certain population?

Is there such a thing as a livebearer that will stop when the tank gets to a certain population?

I'm thinking about my 130 litre tank;

• 1 Angelfish
• 1 Bristlenose Pleco
• 7 Zebra Loach (Botia Striata)
• 10 Cory Cats

What I'd really like is to get a livebearer species, as I do like the idea of breeding; but I don't want to have to think about rehoming/culling them if the population gets out of control, as that would just make me irresponsible; knowing I have nowhere to put them.

So is there a livebearer species that will breed, but not to the point that my tank will get overloaded; making my water quality bad and the fish sad?

 

Probably not. The whole MO of a livebearer is to give birth as much as possible to make up for all the fry that will get eaten by predators. I've heard tell that endlers don't overpopulate quite as badly, but I have no way to verify that, nor do I think the angelfish would leave the adults alone.

Your angelfish might be able to keep the population somewhat limited (I hear they can eat fish as large as a neon tetra) but you probably do need to plan for the possibility of overpopulation when dealing with livebearers.

 

nor do I think the angelfish would leave the adults alone.

As in you think the Angelfish would torment the endlers?

Your angelfish might be able to keep the population somewhat limited (I hear they can eat fish as large as a neon tetra)

I wouldn't want to rely on another fish to stop my tank from being overpopulated that seems irresponsible on my part.

but you probably do need to plan for the possibility of overpopulation when dealing with livebearers.

In which case, the plan is to not get/breed them There's no way I'd be happy culling a fish that was brought into this world because of me.


Thanks BlackOsprey

 

Great question. I don't think so but I don't know that for a fact. As BlackOsprey mentioned, your Angelfish will probably keep the population down to reasonable levels though. I had mollies for a while. My Danio kept the numbers down. They caught and ate them faster than i could catch the newborns.

 

I had mollies for a while. My Danio kept the numbers down. They caught and ate them faster than i could catch the newborns.

Oh, interesting... To completely contradict what I said in my last reply; if I got a school of Danios (which appear compatible with my current stocking) and some livebearers, they'd probably keep everything in check with the Angelfish (who actually seems pretty timid!)?

Edit: Changed '.' to '?' to denote it being a question

 

As in you think the Angelfish would torment the endlers?

As in I think it would *eat* the endlers, even the adults. Even timid angelfish have predator instincts. And mouths. lol

Anyways, this doesn't mean livebearers are a total no-go. A males-only school of platies or mollies won't breed or get eaten.

I don't think you should add 2 schools of fish to this tank, especially if one of the schools will breed. You already have a lot of critters for a tank of this size.

 

Oh, interesting... To completely contradict what I said in my last reply; if I got a school of Danios (which appear compatible with my current stocking) and some livebearers, they'd probably keep everything in check with the Angelfish (who actually seems pretty timid!).

In nature big fish eat small fish but in our tanks we need to give them a fighting chance. I suspect your Angelfish will be bolder with live food in the tank. Although I kept a thick mat of floating plants for the fry the danios were still able to hunt down and eat the majority of them so the number of them was controlled. .

If we are going to have both male and female livebearers in our tanks we do need some kind of birth control or we will find ourselves with more fish than we can handle. Unfortunately they will continue producing more even if the tank is already overrun.

 

As in I think it would *eat* the endlers, even the adults. Even timid angelfish have predator instincts. And mouths. lol

Oh, ok! haha.

A males-only school of platies or mollies won't breed or get eaten.

Genuinely curious; why would a males-only school not get eaten by the Angelfish, but a mixed-sex school would?

I don't think you should add 2 schools of fish to this tank, especially if one of the schools will breed. You already have a lot of critters for a tank of this size.

What do you mean two schools, sorry?

Although I kept a thick mat of floating plants for the fry the danios were still able to hunt down and eat the majority of them so the number of them was controlled. .

Wow. Fish are relentless, huh!?

If we are going to have both male and female livebearers in our tanks we do need some kind of birth control or we will find ourselves with more fish than we can handle.

Unfortunately they will continue producing more even if the tank is already overrun.

I'd really like to have a mixed-school of livebearers, occasionally getting a new baby if it happens to make it through the predatory fish, but it seems like I'd be irresponsible if I did go that route, as I wouldn't have anywhere to put them if they overbred

Thanks mattgirl and BlackOsprey

 

Oh, ok! haha.



Genuinely curious; why would a males-only school not get eaten by the Angelfish, but a mixed-sex school would?

If you have all males there would be no fry. Normally the adult males will be too big for the Angelfish to eat.

What do you mean two schools, sorry?

You mentioned getting both levebearers and possibly danios to eat the fry. I am thinking this is what the 2 schools was referring to.

Wow. Fish are relentless, huh!?

Yes they are when it comes to fresh food

I'd really like to have a mixed-school of livebearers, occasionally getting a new baby if it happens to make it through the predatory fish, but it seems like I'd be irresponsible if I did go that route, as I wouldn't have anywhere to put them if they overbred

Thanks mattgirl and BlackOsprey

The down side to getting a mixed group of livebearers is they may fight each other.That is even more likely if you get all males. They all want to be the boss of the tank. I got rid of my mollies because they became the bullies in my tank. I insist on having a peaceful tank.

 

Normally the adult males will be too big for the Angelfish to eat.

Ah ok! Thanks for clarifying

You mentioned getting both levebearers and possibly danios to eat the fry. I am thinking this is what the 2 schools was referring to.

Oh yeah, haha! I somehow forget I'd mentioned getting danios. There is so much free space in my tank at the moment, so I'm surprised two schools would be too much.

Yes they are when it comes to fresh food

Weirdly, my Angelfish ignores the Daphnia I put in his tank haha!

The down side to getting a mixed group of livebearers is they may fight each other.That is even more likely if you get all males. They all want to be the boss of the tank.

Ah ok. That's definitely not what I want!

I got rid of my mollies because they became the bullies in my tank. I insist on having a peaceful tank.

Yeah, I am the same. That's why I've moved my Corys so many times until they are in a tank they're happy with haha.

 

I think theoretically it will reach an equilibrium at some point. Just think about it, there’s no way a 10 gallon can hold a thousand of endler let’s say. I think prob when the numbers go up, the environment becomes not as ideal so either they slow down breeding or fewer fish and fry survive so eventually the number kinda stays stable.